CHENNAI: Aligning with the BJP would help actor
Rajinikanth assume power in
Tamil Nadu, according to Thuglak magazine editor S
Gurumurthy who said the combination of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and Rajini would do wonders for
Tamil people.
Speaking on the sidelines of the national executive committee meeting of Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), in which Rajinikanth's political opponent Kamal Haasan also participated, Gurumurthy said bringing together the administrative nous of Modi and the mass appeal enjoyed by political aspirant Rajini would work out like magic. He, however, denied that he was advising Rajini on his political entry.
"If people think I am advising Rajinikanth, then I am proud of that," he said.
Kamal and Gurumurthy did not share the dais during the event. Kamal, who had spoken earlier, was on his way out when Gurumurthy walked in. The duo acknowledged each other and shook hands for the camera.
Both were asked to comment on the ongoing Cauvery water sharing dispute. While Gurumurthy sought to shift blame for the non-constitution of the Cauvery Management Board away from Modi, Kamal commented that the issue was not insurmountable.
"If politics will just stand aside, then logic and logistics will fall into place. Then, we can quickly solve the problem," Kamal said, adding that the issue should be "left to actual users" of Cauvery river like farmers.
Kamal was asked by an audience member if defeat in a poll would mean the end of his political journey, to which the actor retorted that it wouldn't be. "I will continue my (political) journey despite failure. I started the journey to challenge status quo, to tell my people that integrity and honesty have a place in politics. This (politics) is the rest of my life," he said.
Kamal also batted for improving the business scope for small entrepreneurs commenting that the "survival of Tamil Nadu" would come to depend on it. He added that skill development in youngsters was the "new satyagraha" the nation requires.
Rajinikanth